Major Scare As Train Derails Due To High Temperatures Near VicFalls

A National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) passenger train derailed on Sunday night although no passengers are reported to have died or been injured in the freak accident. The derailment which occured between Hwange and Victoria Falls has been blamed on a broken rail caused by excessive temperatures. Rail passengers were stranded because the train was still blocking the tracks and as a result, people were forced to use the road or to hitchhike part of the way. NRZ spokesperson Mr Nyasha Maravanyika confirmed the accident saying,

There was derailment between T-Junction and Victoria Falls due to a broken rail where rail expands and contracts because of heat. This sometimes results in bent or broken rail and is the main cause of the derailment. The passenger train from Victoria Falls to Bulawayo didn’t continue on Sunday and up to now, even the BBR cargo will be affected until this is sorted…Two coaches have been re-railed and workmen are busy fixing rail. Our teams are working hard and we may have the railway line working again on Wednesday or Thursday.